
Chris Gayle may have announced he is taking a break from cricket for atleast the rest of the year but he was due to turn up for Chattogram Challengers in the Bangladesh Premier League 2019 starting December 11, and action can be taken against the cricketer by the franchise if he fails to show up.
"I am not going to the Big Bash (Australia’s T20 league). I’m not sure what cricket will come up, I don’t even know how my name reached the BPL, but I have been drafted in a team and I don’t even know how that happened," the big West Indies batsman was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo as he finished his time in South Africa for Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League.
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However, Challengers team director Jalal Yunus said his team had held negotiations with Gayle's agent after he was bought in the BPL draft.
"His agent confirmed Chris was aware about it," Yunus said. "Now if he does not come, we will seek a player outside the draft. But I feel (Bangladesh Cricket Board) BCB should take action in such cases to keep discipline."
Even Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters on Wednesday (November 27) that they found no fault with Gayle’s inclusion after checking the draft process.
"We maintain all the standard procedures when any national cricketer’s name came for the players’ draft," Nizamuddin said.
"Either a player or his agent can show his interest and put the name in the list."
"I have checked the process and everything was done according to a standard process."
Gayle's fitness and batting may have long been on decline but the 40-year-old has been a prolific batsman in the several editions of the BPL. He is the tournament’s highest run-scorer among foreign players with 1,338 runs.
(Inputs from AFP)
